Tracker-bar attachment.



H. 1. LA JOIE TRACKER BAR ATTACHMENT.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 9. I915.

1 258,1 23. Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 H. 1. LA 101E.

TRACKER BAR ATTACHMENT.

AFPLlCATION mu) MAY 9. ms.

Patented Mar. 5, 1918 2 SHEETS-SPISET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERBERT J'. LA JOIE, OF ORANGE, NEW J EBSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE AUTOPIANO COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

TRACKER-BAR ATTACHMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 5, 1918.

Application filed May 9, 1916. Serial No. 96,420.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERBERT J. LA J 01s, a citizen of the United States, residing at Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New J erse have invented a new and useful Trackerar Attachment, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement on the device shown in Patent No. 1,173,652, granted February 29, 1916, for an invention made by Thomas Danquard in an attachment for tracker bars. This attachment consists of a spring clip or clips arranged so that the same can be snapped into operative position to hold the edge or edges of a music sheet closely against a tracker bar. This application covers an improvement on said attachment, and comprises mechanism for automatically throwing said means into and out of operative position.

This mechanism preferably consists of a pneumatic or pneumatics operatively connected with the instrument, so that when the note sheet is being drawn over the tracker bar for playing, the clip or clips will be automatically moved to operative position, and so that when the instrument is not being played or when the note sheet is being drawn backward over the tracker bar for rerolling, the clip or clips will automatically be moved out of operative position.

The invention further consists of details hereinafter particularized and claimed.

The invention is shown in the accompanying two sheets of drawings in which Figure 1 is a front diagrammatic elevation, showing the preferred form of my apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation of a modified arrangement;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged view, showing the operative mechanism, and

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation taken on the line 55 of Fig. 3.

Referring first to the arrangement shown in the first sheet of drawings, it will be seen that the same is shown as applied to the well known Autopiano, the details of which are shown, for example, in patent to Danquard No. 766,601, patented August 2, 1904, for a manually or mechanically operated piano. The mechanism shown comprises a tracker bar T, having the usual apertures and a perforated note sheet N which is wound on a music spool which is placed in position in the apparatus, the note sheet being drawn over the face of the tracker bar by the usual drawing or take-up roll. A pneumatic motor is arranged at the right of the tracker bar, and can be connected through suitable gearing so that the take-up roll will be revolved to draw the note sheet forward over the tracker bar for playing, or so that the music spool will be revolved for drawing the note sheet backward for rerolling. The wind chest is connected to the action by the usual valve box 52 and connection 51, and the motor is connected to the wind chest in the usual way. The usual reroll lever is arranged in the instrument, and is provided with connections to the gearing between the motor and the drawing roll and music spool, to the valve governing the connection between the wind chest and action, and also to the motor governor. These parts are arranged in the usual way so that when the re-roll lever is in its left-hand position, as shown, the wind chest will be connected to the action, and the gearing will be connected to the motor so that the drawing roll will be rotated to draw the perforated note sheet forward over the tracker bar. \Vhen the re-roll lever is thrown to the right the wind chest will be disconnected from the action, the wind chest will be freely connected with the motor, and the gearing will be so adjusted that the motor will rotate the music spool to draw the perforated note sheet. backward over the tracker bar for rewinding. These parts are of the usual and ordinary description, and require no further explanation.

A spring clip 10 has its ends pivoted in the tracker bar near the left-hand end thereof, as shown in Figs. 2 and 5, and is prol6 arranged normally to, move the clips 10 and 13 to outward or inoperative position (as shown in Fig. 2).

Whenthe instrument is being played, the pants assume the position shown inhFig. 1, that is, as the exhaust is connected to the valve box 52, the pneumatic P"Wll*l be collillfifid t0 turn the clips 10 and 13 down to operative position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2, to engage the-edges of the note sheet and hold the same close y to the trucker bar.

When the ,ins ttument is not being played, o when e pe umed ew heet is b in Lerolled, there is. no exhaust in the valve box 52, and hence, the spring 16 will move the clips ],0 and 13 to open or inoperative position, as shown in tall lines in. 2, the spning .LGMaIso. actigifi to expand the pneumatic P. 'Ehes the ps lOand 1,3 will automatically assume the proper positions depending upon What actionv is to take place.

In Fig. 3, a pneumatic P is shown for operating the left-hand clip 10, and a pneumatic B to; operating the right-hand clip 13, the pneumatics being connected to the clips bylinks 2 0 21 which have springs on the same tending normally to expand. or p the Pne ma s Th Pn uma i s and P are connected :by tubes p andp to the valve box 52 By this arrangement the clips will be operated as previously described.

The Clips 10 and arms 11 being nade out of spring. Wire, aize yielding, so that the clips will engage the note sheet with a yielding tension.

By the aicmngement shown, the clips will be automatically moved, to be intoa opeljative position when the instalment is being played, and will automatically movedto inoperative position nthenthe note sheet is being iusented; when iilvleinote-fi fle s bein w hen he instrmnsnt s not ing played.

he details and anrangemeut hsnein shown and described can be greatly named by a skilled mechanic Without depalzting trom the scope of myiinveution asexpsessed in the claims. "Bherefiore I do not wish to be limited to details of constnuction, but what I do claim is-.

1:."1;he combination with meohanicali devices for holding. a, :note sheetagainst a tracker ban, of mechanism efiective toimove said devices into operative position in front of said, trackerllbar and means: efiectiwe to wholly remoye said devices :Erom the space in fr ont of that portion of said har nonmally covered by ithe note sheet, thereby permitting unobstnuoted removal and insertion of the note sheet-in a direction normalto the face 0t said base.

2. The combination with mechanical devices for holding a note sheet against a lower thtough whicasaidimeohaoion n trolled;

3. The combination With mechanical devices or holding a note sheet against a tracker bar, of pneumatically controlled mechanism effective to move said; ,degipps into operative osition in front of said trackcr'har when the note sheet is being drawn forward in playin and means-fl'o;: tive to wholly itemovge"saij devicesJfromthe sp c in m hat o a ion aid he normally covered by the note sheet, when the instrument is not being plgyed, thereby permitting unobstructed removal and tion of the note sheet in a directiou normal to the face of said bar.

4. Ln a musical iusti ument, in combination, mechanical devices for holdi a note he a n a a ke ba m c an sm. to h w n sa di anc to nd: u 0i mmne pos o and con e ons wh ch ende said mechanism effective to remo e said, devices from position in front of that notion of the tracker has normally coneted a. th note sheet when theinstrurnentis not eing played.

In a musical instnument, combination, mechanical devices fol; hold ng a note he gain t ha k oome -5 mm for throw ng saidv e q si eta d ut-9i enemv po i on, o ne ti nsi h h sen l sai me a s efi t hrow: aid mean nto operative posit n hen the ote she t is bemg mwl p iward ove het noks rhe tor playing, and to remove devices ifgom position 1n l'rontogf-said no afi fi e wh li i instrumei-it is ,anranged to; the note sheet backward over the trackeoban rev rolling. V

@6. In aunusicnhinetmi m nh Q QQb time with cli s at \eeehendo theetsesk bar lion holding thenOW iBhQQ t ag ins the some, connections betweeni aifi t clips; Where; by the some will move simultaneonglgeinto and out oi; opssatiaze gositiqn and me h nism for throwin said clips intohe dout of operatiite :poeiitlon.

Z. In a musical instrument, thecembina-v tion with clips at each end of thegtgcclger bar for holding the note she t agein the same, connections (between said olioswhsroby the same will mono simultaneously into and out of operative moeition, and, pneumatic mechanism for throwing seidiclips into and out oi operative position.

8. In a musical; instrument, theflOIIkbiBation with clips at each end of the tracker bar. for holding the note-sheet against the, same, connections between said clips Whereby the same will mote simultaneoualy into and out oat opelsam'we sposition, imd limoumatic mechanism, connected to the passage extending from the wind chest to the action, for throwing said clips into and out of operative osition.

9. n a musical instrument, in combination, means for holding a note sheet against a tracker bar, a pneumatic, connections from said pneumatic to said means through which said pneumatic is effective to press said means against said tracker bar, and resilient members acting through said connections to remove said means from operative position when the pneumatic is released.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERBERT J. LA JOIE.

Witnesses:

WM. L. KNEBEL, E. A. PHILLIPS.

copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the commhlloner of htenta,

Wilmington, D. G." 

